Shelf bracket adaptor

ABSTRACT

A bracket adapter for use with any type of blade shelf bracket to aid in supporting a shelf; the adapter being in the nature of a sheath that is slipped on the outer end of a shelf bracket, having a recess on its upper side to nest a reinforcing channel on the underside of the shelf and a projecting nose for engagement of the shelf front return whereby the bracketsupported shelf is provided assured stability as the shelfreinforcing channel nested in the adapter&#39;&#39;s recess prevents the forward displacement of the shelf and the shelf front return hooked under the adapter&#39;&#39;s projecting nose precludes any accidental upward displacement of the front edge of the shelf.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Thomas Herbert Reeves Scarborough, Ontario, Canada [21 1 Appl. No. 39,017

May 20, 1970 Sept. 14, 1971 FM? Fabricating Limited Toronto, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] SHELF BRACKETADAPTOR 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 248/250,

l08/l08,2l1/134 [51] Int. Cl A47g 29/02 [50] Field of Search 248/235,

P rimary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Att0rneyW. lrw in Haskett ABSTRACT: A bracket adapter for use with any type of blade shelf bracket to aid in supporting a shelf; the adapter being in the nature of a sheath that is slipped on the outer end of a shelf bracket, having a recess on its upper side to nest a reinforcing channel on the underside of the shelf and a projecting nose for engagement of the shelf front return whereby the bracket-supported shelf is provided assured stability as the shelf-reinforcing channel nested in the adapters recess prevents the forward displacement of the shelf and the shelf front return hooked under the adapters projecting nose precludes any accidental upward displacement of the front edge of the shelf.

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This invention relates to improvements in shelving and appertains particularly to an adapter designed to fit over the end of a shelf bracket.

An object of the invention is to provide a shelf bracket adapter for transforming the contour of a bracket to coact with a given design of shelf.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket adapter in the form of a sheath to be slipped on over the outer end of a blade-type shelf bracket to transform the same to harmonize with the contour of the bracket-supported shelf.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, onepiece, shelf-holding bracket adapter of moulded metal, plastic or the like conforming with the contour of the underside of the shelf.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the form and construction of an adapter and its combination and arrangement with other shelving parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described when reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a possible form of the adapter;

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the adapter, positioned in relation to the outer end of a conventional bracket and the outer edge of a reinforced shelf shown in dotted outline;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the adapter; and

FIG. 4 is an inner end elevation thereof.

In a general sense the adapter is a unitary sleeve or sheath designed to be slipped on over the outer end of a blade-type shelf bracket to modify the contour of the bracket to afford more stable support to a shelf member mounted on the bracket. It will be apparent from the drawings that the specific adapter is intended for use on a shelf bracket of the conventional type employed in store shelving where the brackets are hooked at selected heights into slotted uprights and shelves are laid on the horizontally extending brackets and prevented from forward displacement by an upstanding tip on the outer end of the bracket. If it is desired to use a shelf that is wider than the reach of the bracket employed or a reinforced shelf with one or more channels on its underside running the length thereof, such shelves will not coact as desired with the brackets used.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, the adapter will be seen to consist of a one-piece sleeve or sheath 1, preferably of moulded metal, plastic or the like, that in shape is relatively long and narrow with its underside 2 inclined upwardly toward the outer end that terminates in a forwardly projecting, welldefined nose 3.

A deep pocket, chamber or cavity 4 extends in from the larger rear end 5, i.e., the end remote from the nose 3, said pocket or cavity being enlarged vertically at its forward end to provide a compartment 6 of greater height to accommodate the usual upstanding tip 11 on the outer end of the bracket 12. Especially from the plan view and rear end elevation of the adapter, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, it will be clear that the adapter can be quite trim and neat having an overall width of less than three times the thickness of the bracket and in end elevation appear as a vertically elongated rectangle.

The upper side 7 of the adapter that may be stepped downwardly toward the rear has a transversely disposed recess 8 that descends to the top edge of the pocket and is located about midway of the length of the pocket 4. This recess 8 is for the accommodation of a reinforcing channel 14 mounted on the underside of shelf 15 and allows the shelf-reinforcing channel to rest on the upper edge of bracket 12 and also prevents the shelf from shifting forwards.

The shelf is here shown wit a depending front 16 terminating in a rearwardly extending horizontal flange 17 that together constitute what I term a front return that hooks over the adapter nose 3 and eliminates any possibility of accidental upward displacement of the front of the shelf. To facilitate application of the shelf to the adapter, the nose 3 has a bevel 9 on its upper side.

Since it may be desirable to employ shelves of a wide variety of sizes and structural designs, the use of a bracket adapter to modify the contour of the available bracket to afford conformity with a selected shelf will be manifest. Such an adapter, in the form of a sheath as disclosed herein, may assume any shape needed to coact with a bracket and/or shelf and allow required relation therebetween.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An adapter for a blade-type shelf bracket in the form of a unitary sheath for slip-on mounting over the outer end of a bracket; said sheath being relatively long and narrow with its underside inclined upwardly toward and end terminating in a forwardly projecting nose under which a shelf front return may be hooked, said sheath having a deep pocket extending in from the larger rear end for the accommodation of the outer end of a shelf bracket and a transverse recess on its upper side to receive a shelf reinforcement such as a channel on the shelf underside.

2. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1, wherein said transverse recess descends to the top of said pocket and is located about midway of the length of the pocket.

3. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1, wherein said pocket has a compartment of greater height at its inner end to accommodate the usual upstanding tip on the outer end of a shelf bracket.

4. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1 wherein the transversely recessed upper side of the sheath is stepped downwardly toward the rear.

5. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of said forwardly projecting nose has a forwardly declining bevel to facilitate the application of a shelf to the adapter with the shelfs front return hooked on said nose. 

1. An adapter for a blade-type shelf bracket in the form of a unitary sheath for slip-on mounting over the outer end of a bracket; said sheath being relatively long and narrow with its underside inclined upwardly toward and end terminating in a forwardly projecting nose under which a shelf front return may be hooked, said sheath having a deep pocket extending in from the larger rear end for the accommodation of the outer end of a shelf bracket and a transverse recess on its upper side to receive a shelf reinforcement such as a channel on the shelf underside.
 2. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1, wherein said transverse recess descends to the top of said pocket and is located about midway of the length of the pocket.
 3. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1, wherein said pocket has a compartment of greater height at its inner end to accommodate the usual upstanding tip on the outer end of a shelf bracket.
 4. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1 wherein the transversely recessed upper side of the sheath is stepped downwardly toward the rear.
 5. A shelf bracket adapter according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of said forwardly projecting nose has a forwardly declining bevel to facilitate the application of a shelf to the adapter with the shelf''s front return hooked on said nose. 